Escaping the Alpha, Claimed in the End novel Chapter 65

Ryder’s POV

I didn’t waste time chasing Jasper into those woods. He’d slipped away before, and with whatever enhancement he was une catching him now would cost us time we couldn’t afford. Besides, we had something better-the person whod brew paing strings from inside our own home.

“Get her to the cells,” I ordered, wiping blood from my shoulder.

Callum and Lucas hauled the fake Delilah to her feet. She struggled against their grip, but my guys held firm

“This is a mistake!” she protested, her voice taking on that wounded tone. “Ryder, please-I don’t understand what’s happening!”

I didn’t answer. Just turned and headed toward the pack prison beneath the main hall.

We shoved her into the nearest cell, and I slammed the iron door shut. She backed against the wall, eyes wide

I gripped the bars. “I’m going to ask you this once. Why are you working with Jasper? And where did you get a transformation potion?”

Her face crumpled, tears welling up. “Ryder, I don’t-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m Delilah. Your friend. Why would I-”

“Cut it.” I unlocked the cell and stepped inside. In two strides I had her by the throat, slamming her against the wall. Not choking-not yet-but firm enough that she couldn’t move. “We heard everything at the gazebo. You called Jasper. You drugged Amelia. So start talking.”

“I’m not-I would never-”

“Ryder.”

Amelia’s voice cut through the room. I glanced back to see her walking down the corridor with the real Delilah beside her.

The woman in my grip went still.

“We’ve known something was wrong for days,” Amelia said calmly. “The real Delilah was on her solstice retreat. We called her. We checked. And when things didn’t add up, we set the trap-not just to catch you, but to find out who was really behind the fire.”

The fake Delilah stared at the real one for a long moment. Then something shifted in her expression. The fear melted awa replaced by something colder.

“Fine.” Her voice changed, losing that warmth. “You want the truth? Here it is. You think you’re so clever, but you have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

I tightened my grip on her throat. “Then tell me who you are. No more games.

She smiled-sharp and ugly. “Make me.”

I’d had enough.

I grabbed a fistful of her hair and slammed her head against the stone wall–once, hard enough to split skin. She cried out, and I yanked her back to look at me.

“Show me your real face,” I growled. “Right now.”

Blood trickled down her temple. Her eyes flickered with fear now. Real fear

“I don’t know what you’re talking about-

I didn’t let her finish. My fist connected with her ribs, and she doubled over with a choker gasp. I grabbed her by the hi again and dragged her upright.

“Wrong answer.”

I slammed her against the wall again, harder this time. Then again. Each impact punctuated by the crack of her skall aur

stone.

“Stop-please-”

“Show me,” I snarled, my hand wrapping around her throat. I squeezed, cutting off her air. Her hands glawed at my wrist but I didn’t let go. “Drop the disguise or I’ll crush your windpipe.”

Her face was turning red, then purple. Her eyes bulged with panic.

“Ryder,” Amelia said quietly from outside the cell. Not stopping me. Just reminding me she was there.

I loosened my grip just enough for her to gasp in air. “Last chance.”

“Okay!” she choked out. “Okay-just-stop-”

I let go and stepped back, breathing hard.

She slumped against the wall, coughing and wheezing. Then, with shaking hands, she reached up and touched her own face. The air shimmered. Dark roots bled through the silver hair. Her face began to change-the soft features melting away. replaced by sharper angles, a harder jawline, cold green eyes.

Within seconds, a completely different woman stood before me.

Estrella.

Of course it was her.

I should’ve guessed it. She tried to kill Amelia at Silverlight. She was Jasper’s girlfriend-his accomplice in every messed-up thing he’s done.

“Estrella,” Amelia said quietly from behind me, and there was no surprise in her voice. Just cold recognition.

Estrella sneered. “Surprised? You always were too trusting.”

“Not anymore,” I said. I looked at Delilah. “Can you strip her magic? Permanently?”

Delilah hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. But if I do this, her wolf goes too. They’re tied together. She’ll be human. Powerless.”

Estrella’s defiance cracked. “No. No, you can’t take my wolf. Please

“Should’ve thought of that before you poisoned Amelia,” I said. “Before you set that fire. Before you handed her over to Jasper.”

“Please!” Estrella dropped to her knees. “I’ll tell you everything-I know all of Jasper’s plans. Every single one. Just don’t… don’t take my wolf!”

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